The good thing about having an e-book reader is whenever you hear/read about a book recommendation (in the form of a tweet, a Facebook post, a blog entry, word-of-mouth, or a goodreads reco) you can just download the book and start reading it instantly. Below are three recent novels I finished which are, fortunately, light reads so I was able to just whip out my Kindle anywhere (while waiting for the train/taxi, waiting for my movie download to finish, or while I’m on lunch break hanging out at a coffee shop) and resume my reading.
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Every Day by David Levithan
This is a fantasy story about a soul named A, who wakes up every day in the body of a different person. This is something that’s been happening to him since birth and it’s not something he can help. At exactly 12:00MN, he is painfully transported to another person’s body, so he learned from experience not to fight it anymore. He lives a certain person’s life for a day but does his best not to get attached or mess anything up.
A is not exactly a “he” but in the story, while he is in the body of a person named Justin, A unexpectedly falls in love with Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. So in the reader’s head, A is a guy. A lovestruck, hopeless romantic one. Every day since they met he does whatever he can to be close to Rhiannon, even driving hundreds of miles and skipping school. It’s tricky because, as mentioned, he wakes up every day in a different body and is usually hours away from Rhiannon. And it’s exactly this premise why I could not put the book down. Given that plot, wouldn’t you want to find out the ending of the story too?
I believe this book is for Young Adults but it gets you thinking (as a non-young adult :P) if you were in Rhiannon’s place, can you really love someone regardless of what they look like on the outside?
I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars, simply because it’s a unique story and it gave me a fleeting moment after I finished reading it.
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The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick
The story is narrated by Pat Peoples, who has just gotten out of the mental institution (or what he calls “the Bad Place”), where he was staying for four years after a massive breakdown caused by his divorce. He is convinced that his life is directed by God and that he is destined to have a happy ending. Pat tries his best to get his life back on track until he is reunited with his ex-wife Nikki (or when, what he calls “Apart Time”, is over).
Pat is clearly delusional but in an adorable way, he is a character you can’t help rooting for. On the road to self-improvement, he eventually learns the real score between him and Nikki, with the help of his friend Tiffany. The last few chapters are crucial because it’s where all the issues (and a love confession) blow wide open.
In just one day, I finished The Silver Linings Playbook since the chapters are short and entertaining the whole way through. While reading it, I was also downloading the movie version starring Bradley Cooper (hot!) and Jennifer Lawrence (even hotter! lol). The film is different from the book in many ways (they focused more on the story of Pat and Tiffany and not on Pat’s personal journey pining for his ex-wife) but I liked both versions equally.
After I read the book and watched the movie (all in one day!) I honestly felt that I was becoming a little cuckoo, too! Pat’s philosophy in life is if you look hard enough for the silver lining, you will have a happy ending. It’s not exactly a crazy philosophy :)
This is a 4 out of 5 stars for me.
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The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
The story is about a 16-year old girl named Hazel, a medical marvel/survivor who was diagnosed with Stage IV thyroid cancer. Hazel might still be sick, but with the help of her parents, she tries to live her life as normal as she can (even though she is tethered to an oxygen tank probably for the rest of her life). One day, she meets Augustus Waters at a cancer support group. They get to know each other and a wonderful love story begins. Together they face life, and the creeping doubt that death could be just around the corner waiting for either or both of them.
The Fault in Our Stars is a YA book, but it’s honestly a little heavy because it deals with sickness and loss. (Or maybe I just find it heavy because I relate it to my father’s death #IHateYouCancer.) The book is filled with good and funny life insights from the two protagonists, which I think are too much coming from teenagers. But this is just a light YA read so I shouldn’t read too much into it.
I rate this book 2 out of 5.
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After these three recent light reads, I’m ready to go back to “long, serious, and heavy.” Game of Thrones Season 3 is looming, it premieres 03.31.13! Will now resume A Storm of Swords (third volume of the A Song of Ice and Fire series). The Casual Vacancy and 1Q84 are next on my list.
Any book recommendations for me? :)
My name is Joni - a digital marketer by day, entrepreneur by night. This is where you'll read about my life's highs, lows, and in-betweens all rolled into one little blog. 
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell! One of my favorite reads last year. You may have a bit of an idea how the story goes if you’ve watched the movie, but the book is loads better, of course.
If you’re in the mood for some YA paranormal romance that is far from Twilight, try the Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand (Unearthly, Hallowed, Boundless). The third book just came out, so you won’t be left hanging.
And my ultimate favorite zombie series – Newsflesh trilogy by Mira Grant (Feed, Deadline, Blackout). It’s not scary zombie but more sci-fi. The first book dealt with blogging so it was very very fun to read. :)
I know I can count on you for book recommendations, Tina! Thanks! :)
Will check out all these. Though YA is not really my thing (gusto ko yung mga thought-provoking haha) but I will keep some YA books on my reader for situations that call for light reading :)
Haha my ears perk up every time someone asks for book recommendations.
Hm have you read Life of Pi? That may be along the lines of what you want. Or Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go. :)
Oooh and if you want to go local, I urge you to try Alternative Alamat edited by Paolo Chikiamco and Mina V. Esguerra’s books. Mina’s books are on the light side, but since it’s February, it might fit. Alternative Alamat are retellings of local myths and I always, always recommend it to people. :D
Last! I remember you like traveling, so, Wanderlove by Kristen Hubbard. :) It’s YA, too, but I think you’ll like that a lot.
Haha let me know if you need more recommendations and I’ll go dig around my shelf for you. :D
I was actually reading Never Let Me Go, mga 25% pa lang. I-continue ko na lang :) Naintriga ako sa Wanderlove na yan, ma-download nga tonight. Hehehe! Thanks again! :)
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